Photographic print processing apparatus



April 13, 1965 A. N. RITTINGER PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT PROCESSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 6. 1960 N? mn O LTD"--- his attorneys.

l 13, 5 A. N. RITTINGER PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT PROCESSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 6, 1960 his attorneys.

April 13, 1965 A. N. RITTINGER PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed April 6, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 his aflorneys.

April 13, 1965 Filed April 6, 1960 A. N. RITTINGER PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT PROCESSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ADAM N. R ITTINGER W KW his attorneys.

United States Patent 3,177,792 PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT PROCESSING APPARATUS Adam N. Rittinger, lrondequoit, N.Y.,Vassignor, by mesne assignments, toltek Corporation, Lexington, Mass, a

corporation of Delaware FiledA-pr. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 20,445 3 Claims. ((31:95-94) This invention relates tophotographic print processing apparatus andprovides an apparatus for developing rightreading prints, suchas black-on-white copies from a blackof the above character, having -a practical and efiicient construction for developing photographic paper of the type described.

Another object is to supply suchan apparatus adapted to operate efficiently atarelativelyrapid rate of travel of the. paper.

A further object iszthe provision-of an apparatus of the above nature havinga relatively simple andpractical construction capable of operating efiicientlyvand economicallyas regards the time, labonand materials involved.

Tothese and otherends the invention resides in certain improvements andcombinations of parts, all as will 'beihereinaftermore fully described, the novel-features b'eingpointed out in theclaims at the end of the specifica- 'tion.

in the drawings: FIG. 1 is a longitudinalsectional elevation, showing an apparatusembodying theupresent invention;

'FlG.'2.is a transverse, sectional elevation of the-apparatuson the line 2-2 in FIG. 3 asviewedfrom the right and showing portions of the spray washing section of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is.an-enlarged, longitudinal, sectional elevation of the spray washing section of the apparatus shown in f FIG. 1;

. FIG. 4 is a. transverse, sectional elevation on line 22 in FIG- 3,-as viewed from the left," and FIG. 5.is.an.enlarged detail .of a portion of apin bar employed in the apparatus.

Theinventionis. embodied vin the present instance in conjunction with acamera comprising a supply roll-of photographic paper for feeding intermittently into the exposure plane and with means for cutting off an exposed portion ofthe paper and discharging-it into thepath of means for carrying it through the processing apparatus,

. all as:disclosed, for example, in .thepatentsto Capset al.

No. 1,824,259 and Greene et al.-No. 1,894,092.

The present apparatus iis;specially-designed Efor processingtheknownpositive pr-ocess paperqofthe type; having a surface-coatedwith two layers of'emulsion. The

upper or outer. layer is a fast orthochromatic emulsion in a colloid made soluble by-an alkaline developer and;:is 1 sensitiveto light and-reacts normally to'exposure-to receive a'negative image. During development, two .re-

actions take place at thesame time inthe emulsion. One reaction causes the negative image of the photographed subject to appear in the upper layer. In the second re- .action this .negativeimage produces a positive image in the lower layer of the emulsion. The paper is thensubjected to a. thorough-presoaking by water by which the soluble upper layer of-the emulsion', no longer needed, is

softened to a condition in which it crumbles and can be stripped off ina pressure spray of water, leaving a positive, right-reading permanent photographic reproduction of the subject'iuthe one step described, without the usual intermediate negative.

The present apparatus comprises (FIG. 1) a developing container section 10, a pressure spray washing container section 12 and a section, indicated generally at 14, comprising :a plurality of containers for successive washing immersions of the print 15, as hereafter described in more detail. A supporting frame means 16 (FIG. 2) is mounted on the open-upper ends. of the containers to support the apparatus enclosed therein.

A photographic print such as described may be processed at a relatively rapid rate of travel through the developingfluid of the processing apparatus,.provided it is ,continuouslyimmersed in such'fluid for a period of ap- V proximately sixty seconds. The present apparatus accordingly comprises a developing fluid containerlll, of sub stantial depth as shown and means for carrying an exposed print downwardly and upwardly in thefluid a plurality of times, while continuously immersed below the surface of the fluid. To this end the supporting frame means on the containers carries a series of longitudinally spaced, transverselyextending shafts as 18 (F162) each journalled at its ends in the supporting frame means on opposite sides of the containers. These shaftsare rotated by means hereafter described and have rollers 20 fixed on their central portions for contact with the prints as they are carried through the apparatus by print carrying means of the known continuous sprocket chain vand pin 7 bar type disclosed-in said patents and hereafterdescribed.

The series of shafts 13 comprise similar parts similarly mounted and driven, so that a' description of one will apply to all.

The supporting frame meansat each side of the con tainer 10 carries :a .pair of transversely aligned, substantially Z-shaped brackets 22. (FIG. 4), each secured by a bolt. 24-on a boss 26 on the frame means, substantially as described in said Patent No. 1,824,259. Each bracket 22'has its lower inner side formed with a rectangular notch below the. inwardly extending top of the bracket ,and'the top of the bracket carries an adjustable tensioning bolt 28, these parts providing for the support and adjustmentof the separator frames as hereafter more fully described. The separator frames 39, of which there are two in container 10, are alike, each comprising a pair of side posts, asf32, connected by a transversely extending 'partition34. The upper ends of the side posts are received inthe respective notchesin the'brackets' 22, bearing at their upper ends against the tension adjusting bolts 28. The lower ends of the side posts of each separator frame are provided with bearings supporting a transversely extending shaft 36having rotary elements in the-form of chain guiding disks 38 adjacent its opposite ends and a print receiving roller40 at its central portion. The lower endlof each side. post has a circularflange 42 'toinsure minimum spacingbetween-the separator frames and between 'suchframes andthe sides of the container. The supporting frame means, intermediatethe separator frames in the developing container 10, supports a cross shaft 44 carrying adjacent each enda hanger strap 46 depending below the fluidsurface in the container. The lower ends of the straps are .formed with bearingssupfporting a cross shaft '47 carrying a roller 48 for receiving theprints-carriedby the -sprocketchains and thelatter are carried byguiding disks Sti-similar to the disks 38 of the separator frames. The endless sprocket chain 52 at each side of the apparatus passes around a rotary element or driving sprocket wheel 54 on .the. .supporting frame (FIG. 1) downwardly, adjacent the'bottom of the con of the container.

- 3 tainer, around the guiding disk 33 of the first separator frame and upwardly around the guiding disk on the shaft 47 of the intermediate roller 48,be1ow the surface of the container fluid. Each chain then passes downwardly around'the guiding disk on the shaft at the lower end of the second frame and thence upwardly out of the container around the rotary elements or sprocket wheels on the transverse shafts journalled in the supporting frame a 1 if carried above the liquid surface during such treatment.

From the developing container ft the chains carry the prints over further rollers, as 56, on shafts journalled in the supporting frame means and down into the spray washing container 12. Container 12 is separated by a partition 53 into a first compartment 64) and a second compartment 62 communicating with each other adjacent the bottom Partition 5% is carried by a separator frame comprising side posts ddadjustably mounted at their upper ends by brackets as described'above in connection with the separator frames of the developing container. The lower ends of the opposite side posts are provided with bearings for a shaft 36 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and print receiving roller 40, as described above in connection with the separator frames of the developing container. Such shaft is likewise provided with the chain guiding disks 33, as described above. The lower end of each side post of separator frame 64 is enlarged as at 66 and retained between the container side and. a spaced angle iron 68 (FIG. 4) fixed on the side of the container. The separator frames of each container are held up against the tension adjusting bolts 28 of the. brackets 22 by the carrier chains 52 which are tensioned by adjusting the bolts.

The second compartment 62 of the spray washing container has mounted therein a wash plate or board '76 (FIGS. 13) supported by stud bolts 72 passed therethrough and threadedly engaged in the flanges of angle bars '74 fixed to the sides of the container. The wash board carries adjusting stop screws 76 for accurately determining the position of the wash board as drawn against the stop screws '76 by the studs '72. It will be seen that the wash board extends from adjacent the bottom of the container compartment upwardly and at a longitudinal inclination away from partition 58 and in the direction of travel of the print carrying chains. The chains pass around rotary elements or sprockets 78 of the transverse shafts on the supporting frame means, down into the first compartment, around the guide disks 3% adjacent the bottom of the container and thence upwardly, along the under side of the wash board 76 and in spaced relation therewith as controlled by the screws 7 6 (FIG. 3). The chains then pass upwardly out of the second compartment around the rotary elements or sprockets 80 on the supporting frame means and down into the series of immersion containers hereafter described.

Extending laterally across the compartment 62 is a pipe 82 connected through one side of the container (FIG. 2) with a source of water under pressure. Pipe 82 carries a plurality of spray nozzles 84 spaced therealong and positioned to direct forceful sprays of water toward the wash board and the emulsion side of a print as it is car- 1 ried upwardly in spaced relation with the wash board, with the result that the print is thoroughly presoaked from both sides with water as it rises through the come partmentl By the time the print reaches proximity with the spray nozzles, the upper soluble emulsion layer has f acquired a crumbling consistency so that the force of the sprays strips such layer from the print, leaving only the under layer with the permanent image carried thereby intact on its paper base.

Compartment 62 of the container is provided at its bottom with a-discharge outlet 86 by means of which the spray water and stripped emulsion are continuously carried away so as to prevent accumulation in the container and contamination of the print.

The developed print, stripped cleanly down to its permanent image emulsion, then passes into the series of immersion containers 14, each having therein a separator frame depending from the frame supporting means on the containers as described above in connection with containers it) and 12, the print being carried downwardly and upwardly in each of the containers to thoroughly wash the same and the carrying chain means, as disclosed in said patents. From these containers the print is carried to such further disposition as may be desired, the endless carrying chains returning, by any known and suitable means not shown, to the point of engagement of the prints discharged from the camera.

The means for driving the rotary elements or, transverse shafts on the supporting frame means preferably comprises a worm wheel 88 fixed on one end of each shaft 18 (FIG. 2) meshing with a worm 89 on a shaft 9i) driven by any suitable means as described in said patents.

Y The print engaging and carrying means is preferably of the lsnown pin bar type in which the chains at the opposite sides of the apparatus carry theends of cross bars 92 (FIG. 5) having pins 94: projecting forwardly therefrom so as to pierce and engage the prints delivered from the camera, as disclosed in said patents.

The side wall of the first compartment 60 of the spray washing container 12 is fitted with a series of laterally spaced ribs 96 extending downwardly from the top of the side wall and across the bottom of the container for the It is apparent from the above description that the apparatus is effectively adapted to receive and subject the exposed prints to developing treatment for a satisfactory period, say sixty seconds, while moving at a relatively rapid processing speed. This is accomplished by moving the paper, while wholly submerged in the developing fluid, through a path of sufficient length, obtained by multiple passes through the fluid or by a container of suiiicient size. After such development, the print is carried through the atmosphere to the bottom of the spray washing container and thence upwardly through a space in which it is thoroughly presoaked to soften the outer emulsion. Then the emulsion side of the print encounters at close range the pressure spray which strips off the softened emulsion for discharge at the bottom of the container.- The print is then subjected to repeated immersion washing for thorough cleansing, after which it may be dried in the usual manner, yielding a positive, right-reading, high quality permanent photocopy print of the object photographed in a single direct step, without resort to negative intermediates, and thus effecting substantial savings in time, labor and materials. I l

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects and while it has been herein disclosed by reference I said paper comprising an emulsion having an outer layer that is sensitive to light, reactive normally to exposure to receive a negative image, and is in colloid form made soluble by an alkaline developer to cause said negative image to appear in said outer layer and a lower layer in which said negative image produces a positive image, said apparatus comprising:

a first container for fluid to develop an exposed portion of said paper;

a second container for fluid to spray wash a developed portion of said paper;

means for conveying said exposed portion of said paper through said first container and to said second container;

a separator frame depending into said second container and having thereon a partition dividing said second container into a first compartment and second compartment communicating with each other adjacent the bottom of said second container;

spaced rotary elements at the lower end of said frame between said first and second compartments;

a washboard mounted in said second compartment and inclined upwardly therein and away from said partition;

spaced endless flexible carrying members passing downwardly in said first compartment and around said rotary elements and upwardly in said second compartment adjacent and spaced below said inclined washboard and engaging and carrying said exposed portion through said first and second compartments in succession;

fluid pressure spray means in said second compartment adjacent the upper side of said washboard for spraying both sides of said exposed portion carried by said members to remove spent emulsion therefrom; and

means for draining the bottom of said second container to discharge the spent fluid and emulsion.

2. In an apparatus for processing positive process paper, said paper comprising an emulsion having an outer layer that is sensitive to light, reactive normally to exposure to receive a negative image and is in colloid form made soluble by an alkaline developer to cause said negative image to appear in said outer layer and a lower layer in which said negative image produces a positive image, said apparatus comprising:

a first container for fluid to develop an exposed portion of said paper;

a second container for fluid to spray wash a developed portion of said paper;

means for conveying said exposed portion through said first container and to said second container;

supporting frame means at the upper end of said second container;

a separator frame depending from said supporting frame means into said second container and having thereon a partition dividing said second container into a first compartment and a second compartment communieating with each other adjacent the bottom of said second container;

spaced rotary elements on said supporting frame means and on the lower end of said separato frame;

a washboard mounted in said second compartment and inclined upwardly and longitudinally of said second container;

spaced endless carrying sprocket chain passing around said spaced rotary elements on said supporting frame means, downwardly in said first compartment and around said rotary elements on said separator frame and upwardly in said second compartment adjacent and spaced longitudinally from said inclined washboard for engaging and carrying said exposed portion through said first and second compartments in succession;

a plurality of spray nozzles in said second compartment adjacent the top of said washboard on the side thereof opposite said partition for spraying both sides of said exposed portion carried by said chain in said second compartment to remove softened emulsion therefrom; and

means for continuously draining the bottom of said washing container to discharge spent fluid and emulsion.

3. In an apparatus for processing positive process paper, said paper comprising an emulsion having an outer layer that is sensitive to light, reactive normally to exposure to receive a negative image, and is in colloid form made soluble by an alkaline developer to cause said negative image to appear in said outer layer and a lower layer in which said negative image produces a positive image, said apparatus comprising:

a first container for fluid to develop an exposed portion of said paper;

a second container juxtaposed with said first container for fluid to spray wash a developed portion of said P p supporting frame means on the upper ends of said first and said second container;

a plurality of spaced separator frames depending into said first container from said supporting frame means;

spaced rotary elements on said supporting frame means and on the lower ends of said plurality of separator frames;

spaced rotary elements carried by said supporting frame means intermediate said plurality of separator frames in said first container adjacent and below the fluid surface therein;

a separator frame depending into said second container and having thereon a partition dividing said second container into a first compartment and a second compartment, said first compartment communicating with said second compartment adjacent the bottom of said second container;

spaced rotary elements at the lower end of said separator frame between said first compartment and said second compartment;

a washboard mounted in said second compartment and inclined upwardly therein and away from said partition;

spaced endless flexible paper carrying members passing around said rotary elements on said supporting frame means and on the lower ends of said plurality of separator frames in said first container and said separator frame in said second container, said carrying members passing said exposed portion through said first container continuously below the fluid surface therein and downwardly in said first compartment and upwardly in said second compartment of said second container adjacent and spaced below said washboard;

fluid pressure spray means in said second compartment adjacent the upper side of said washboard for spraying both sides of said exposed portion carried by said carrying members to remove spent emulsion therefrom; and

means for draining the bottom of said second container to discharge the spent fluid and emulsion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,613,303 Andrews Jan. 4, 1927 1,894,092 Greene et al Ian. 10, 1933 2,355,109 Riddick Aug. 8, 1944 2,699,393 Weyde Jan. 11, 1955 2,740,717 Yutzy et al Apr. 3, 1956 2,751,829 Mears June 26, 1955 2,810,572 Dignan Oct. 22, 1957 2,912,915 Hiserman Nov. 17, 1959 2,913,974 Sahel et a1 Nov. 24, 1959 

1. IN A APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING POSITIVE PROCESS PAPER, SAID PAPER COMPRISING AN EMULSION AHVING AN OUTER LAYER THAT IS SENSITIVE TO LIGHT, REACTIVE NORMALLY TO EXPOSURE TO RECEIVE A NEGATIVE IMAGE, AND IS IN COLLOID FORM MADE SOLUBLE BY AN ALKALINE DEVELOPER TO CAUSE SAID NEGATIVE IMAGE TO APPEAR IN SAID OUTER LAYER AND A LOWER ALYER IN WHICH SAID NEGATIVE IMAGE PRODUCES A POSITIVE IMAGE, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: A FIRST CONTAINER FOR FLUID TO DEVELOP AN EXPOSED PORTION OF SAID PAPER; A SECOND CONTAINER FOR FLUID TO SPRAY WASH A DEVELOPED PORTION OF SAID PAPER; MEANS FOR CONVEYING SAID EXPOSED PORTION OF SAID PAPER THROUGH SAID FIRST CONTAINER AND TO SAID SECOND CONTAINER; A SEPARATOR FRAME DEPENDING INTO SAID SECOND CONTAINER AND HAVING THEREON A PARTITION DIVIDING SAID SECOND CONTAINER INTO A FIRST COMPARTMENT AND SECOND COMPARTMENT COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHERE ADJACENT THE BOTTOM OF SAID SECOND CONTAINER; SPACED ROTARY ELEMENTS AT THE LOWER END OF SAID FRAME BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND COMPARTMENTS; A WASHBOARD MOUNTED IN SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT AND INCLINED UPWARDLY THERIN AND AWAY FROMSAID PARTITION; SPACED ENDLESS FLEXIBLE CARRYNG EMMBERS PASSING DOWNWARDLY IN SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT AND AROUND SAID ROTARY ELEMENTS AND UPWARDLY IN SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT ADJACNET AND SPACED BWLOW SAID INCLINED WASHBOARD AND ENGAGING AND CARRYING SAID EXPOSED PORTION THROUGH SAID FIRST AND SECOND COMPRATMENTS IN SUCCESSION; FLUID PRESSURE SPRAY MEANS IN SAID SECOND COMPRATMENT ADJACENT THE UPPER SIDE OF SIAD WASHBOARD FOR SPRAYING BOTH SIDE SOF SAID EXPOSED PORTION CARRIED BY SAID MEMBERS TO REMOVE SPENT EMULSION THEREFROM; AND MEANS FOR DRAINING THE BOTTOM OF SAID SECOND CONTAINER TO DISCHARGE THE SPEN FLUID AND EMULSION. 